俄國対中国輸出天然氣可能影響日本能源戦略佈署

A few weeks ago the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following:

中国が主導権握れば日本エネルギー戦略に影響も

2014年05月22日 10時10分

　【上海＝田村雄】ロシアのプーチン大統領は２１日、天然ガスの対中国輸出の契約締結にこぎ着けたことで、ウクライナ情勢を巡る米欧の経済制裁によるロシア経済の先行き不安を低減した。

　一方、今回の合意は、エネルギー分野での日露協力にも影響が出る可能性がある。

　プーチン大統領は２１日、ロシアの国営ガス企業ガスプロムと中国石油天然ガス（ＣＮＰＣ）の契約締結に習近平(シージンピン)国家主席と立ち会った後、「ソ連とロシアの時代を通してガス分野で最も大きい（契約だ）」と意義を強調した。

　ロシアの天然ガス輸出の約７割は欧州向けだが、欧州連合（ＥＵ）は、ロシア産ガスの輸入を削減する方針だ。ウクライナ情勢の緊迫化による欧米との関係悪化は、ロシア経済に影を落としていた。

　中国向けのガス輸出価格交渉は２０日の中露首脳会談までに決着できなかったが、プーチン大統領が、ガス価格引き下げにつながる税制優遇を決断するなどロシア側が譲歩を示し、２１日早朝に妥結した。

　日本は、中露の交渉難航を追い風にロシアとの関係強化を進め、ウラジオストクの液化天然ガス（ＬＮＧ）事業や東シベリア、サハリンの資源開発事業を進めてきた。

　今回の合意で、東シベリア開発などの主導権が中国に握られれば、日本のエネルギー戦略にも影響が出そうだ。

(試譯文)

On the 21^st (May) Russian President Putin in concluding a contract to export natural gas to China, had reduced the uncertainty over the future of the Russia economy caused by the economic sanctions of the U.S. and Europe over the situation in Ukraine.

On the other hand, Japan-Russia cooperation in the energy field might also be affected by this agreement.

On the 21st President Putin after witnessing with PRC President Xi Jinping the conclusion of a contract between Russia national gas company Gazprom and China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), emphasized its meaning: "it (the contract) is the biggest in term of gas throughout the time of the Soviet Union and Russia".

Although about 70 percent of Russia’s natural gas export was to Europe, European Union (EU) was planning to reduce the import of the gas from Russia. Aggravated relationship with Europe and the U.S. due to tensions over the situation in Ukraine had cast a shadow on the Russia’s economy.

Although price negotiation on gas exported to China could not be settled by the China-Russia summit meeting on the 20th, on the Russia side, President Putin showed concession and decided on tax incentives leading to a gas price cut, and came to an agreement in the early morning of the 21st.

All along following the wind of Sino-Russia negotiation difficulties, Japan had gained progress in strengthening its ties with Russia, and had made advancement in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) enterprise of Vladivostok, and also the resources development enterprise in east Siberia and Sakhalin.

By this agreement, if China had the leadership in east Siberia development etc., Japan’s energy strategy would likely be affected.

It is interesting to note that a crisis in Ukraine could affect the economic development in East Asia that would have political implications for Japan.